I am here at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Trade show in Anaheim, California. I look forward to this event each year because it is a chance for me to recharge my mojo. The Winter CHA Mega show is a chance to view trending products and designs as well as see all the latest and greatest products available in the craft and hobby industry.
My favorite part, however, is the chance I to reunite and fellowship with friends from all over the world that understand me and who7 share the same passion for arts, crafts, fashion, and designs. For a few years, I struggled trying to define whether I was an artist or a crafter. Some people in the craft industry didn't relate or understand my desire to be an artist and explore facets of fine art, mixed media art, and intuitive art. Many 'established artists' in my area could not relate to my passion of being a craft designer either. I even had one locally well-known artist make a comment to me that if I wanted to be taken seriously as an artist in my field and local area, I needed to stop sharing 'crafty' things on my website. I've had others make comments about hobby artists are not true professional artists. What and who defines these things? I succumbed to the pressure and started feeling nervous (almost embarrassed) to share with artists that I was also a crafter - vice verse, in the craft industry, I was nervous about calling myself an artist. Add to all of this the fact that while I do have some scholarly training in fine arts, I never finished my degree so I'm a self-taught artist rather than an artist claiming a Masters in Fine Arts degree.
While I may not have a degree certification, I am always taking classes to grow my skills and hone my talents. I work hard almost every day striving to make a living from my art and talent; so what defines a professional artist versus a hobby artist? Who says you can't mix paint with things like paper, resin, fabric, fibers, wax and more? Who claims that to be a serious artist, you should stick to one medium? Some of the most famous artists in the world worked in many mediums throughout their career. So, why was I struggling and succumbing to other's who were trying to peg me in a hole?
Right before attending the CHA Mega Show a few years back, I was debating these same doubts and questioning whether I was an artist or a designer/crafter. While attending that show, I took the chance to confide my self-doubts with a few friends. These same friends helped to encourage me and lift me up and help me refine my goals and aspirations. It finally dawned on me that I didn't NEED to choose. I didn't NEED someone else defining me or my style. I am BOTH! I now proudly state that I am a self-taught Artist AND a Professional Designer in the Craft and Hobby Industry.
I make pretty cards. I scrapbook and preserve my family memories. I love to sew and quilt. I enjoy hosting dinners and parties with handmade decorations and invitations. I feel pride in creating home decor {and vintage trailer decor}. I feel a great sense of accomplishment in DIY. I love the speed and versatility of acrylic paints. I love the smell of oil paints and the sound of a palette knife against a canvas. Most of all, I love teaching others how to do many of these things and seeing the pride they then take in their creations. And I love when I can add some of these things together in one mixed media piece.
It's exciting that the industry is evolving and we now see so many artists and crafters blurring the lines. We see many of our crafting products crossing over into the fine arts industry. We also see many crafters expanding their skills with fine art products and techniques. This awesome cross-over is what is fueling our mixed-media industry. We see local stores stamp and scrapbook stores changing along with this. I know of many local scrapbook stores all over the country who are reinventing themselves into a mixed media store, or at the very least adding more of a mixed media section to their store. I find this inspirational and encouraging.
Even more exciting is that with my feet in both doors, I'm able to offer my services to so many of these stores as a traveling teacher. I work hard to develop classes that will interest many of these stores' customers - from cards and paper crafting, to mixed media paintings, home decor, and now Powertex sculptures and mixed media. These all combine to create a great experience for the store owner, the customer, and myself.
As I walk through the vendor halls of the CHA Mega Show, I look forward to seeing what is new. What products can I work into new classes? What companies are great companies to work with? What companies will benefit from working with me too? I'm also excited to connect and touch bases with the companies that have been so supportive of my Living The Art Life(TM) tours to this point. Glinda and I would not be able to do as much as we have on the road without support from Kunin Felt, MD Hobby, and Fairfield World. My classes would not be as as diverse and technique-filled without companies such as The Crafter's Workshop, Sizzix, Beacon Adhesives, Canvas Corp Brands, Design Memory Craft Faber-Castell, Thermoweb, DecoArt, Powertex, and more.
During this week, I also get to meet up again with my family of friends for fellowship and inspiration. I am refueled and invigorated during these days with like-minded individuals. I'm excited to reconnect and make new friends from all over the world. I am truly honored to say that I have real-life friends (not just virtual) from not only the United States, but Canada, UK, Poland, Germany, Australia, Russia, Japan, China, Singapore, England, Israel, and so many more places. I'm excited to meet friends IRL (in real life) this weekend that I've only talked to online and I'm excited about new friends I know I'll meet that I don't even know of yet. I even met some brand new friends on the flight to Anaheim.
Everyone needs to find a way to refuel and connect with your fellow peers who share similar interests and passions. This week is my chance to do so. This is my week to charge up for the upcoming year.
So, if you are reading this and attending, please find me and say Hi. Let's chat a bit and /or have a drink together.
The CHA trade show is for CHA members only. It is for manufacturers, buyers, media, and professionals in the Craft and Hobby Industry. It's a lot of work along with some play time.
If you aren't attending, but would like to know more, leave a comment below and tell me what you would like me to share from the CHA show floor? What type of products are you interested in? What or Who do you want to see? What type of classes would you like to see me teaching and bring to a store near you?
Make sure you are following my social media channels, I'll be sharing much there over the next few days. I look forward to hearing from you.
